Here’s a bit of sweet timing. Just as the PC Era collapses and everyone moves to the cloud, what is Apple selling? Why, the MacBook Air, a light mobile device that seems perfect for the iCloud generation. Oh, yeah, it’s also a “quasi-tablet.” No wonder analysts predict Apple will make billions off the device.
J.P. Morgan analyst Mark Moskowitz Thursday sharply increased his revenue estimate for the MacBook Air, telling investors he expects $3 billion annually from the laptop, up from the $2.2 billion projected in April. Indeed, MacBook Air shipments were up 412 percent in the first quarter of 2011 compared to a 10.5 percent sequential drop for other Mac devices and a 10.1 percent decrease for PCs. The analyst described such a spike as a “break-out” for the MacBook Air.
The slim SSD-based MacBook Air is also getting a boost from Apple’s iCloud initiative, according to Moskowitz. Just 3-4 percent of notebook PCs use SSD storage instead of conventional hard drives, according to the analyst firm. In a nod to the increasing popularity of tablets over traditional PCs, the J.P. Morgan Apple expert labeled the MacBook Air as a “quasi-tablet for productivity.” Along with its slim profile, the device has an integrated keyboard and a complete suite of applications.
Apple reportedly will introduce an update of the current MacBook Airs unveiled in October 2010. The updates may include a faster Sany Bridge processor as well as a $100 price drop, according to Moskowitz.
